Prep football: SCCS’ strong response

One week after suffering first loss of season, Cardinals notch seventh mercy-rule victory of the yea

GRANADA HILLS — A week after it was shoved around by Faith Baptist for its first loss of the year, this wasn’t a good week to face the Santa Clarita Christian football team.

Unfortunately for Hillcrest Christian, the Eagles didn’t exactly have much of a choice.

The Cardinals’ offense racked up 40 first-quarter points and a defense that was gashed for 52 points a week ago was unmovable Saturday in a 54-0 win at Granada Hills High.

The game was over at halftime due to the mercy rule. Two quarters were plenty for the Cardinals to work out their frustrations heading into next week’s tilt with Windward of Los Angeles.

“That loss (52-16 against Faith Baptist) was a wakeup call for these guys,” said SCCS head coach Garrick Moss. “We needed it. This week in practice, we were focused, we improved and we came into this game real hungry and ready to play extremely hard.”

The Cardinals’ defense was the game’s decisive factor.

Having given up 86 points in its six previous quarters, the team needed an improved effort. The Cardinals got it, giving up just three total first downs to the Eagles (4-4).

As for the offense, the Cardinals (7-1) scored on all seven of their possessions.

Five different SCCS players visited the end zone, with Daniel Green and Jake Asher scoring twice. Ryan Espinosa, Chris Fechtelkotter and Jacob Nogle each added one score as well.

So balanced was the offensive attack that Green, the starting tailback, touched the ball just twice. He had one carry for a 39-yard touchdown and one catch for a 10-yard score.

With the way the offense was flowing, the senior didn’t even notice.

“I only had one carry? That’s great,” Green said. “I think that’s phenomenal. I didn’t even realize. We have such a deep team. Today, we got every one of our guys involved.”

Asher led with 50 yards and the two touchdowns on three carries. Freshman Trevor Lopez added 35 yards on five carries. Luke Asher had five carries for 30 yards.

Quarterbacking the Cardinals, Mark Hovey attempted just three passes and still tossed two touchdowns, a 20-yard score to Espinosa and a 19-yarder to Fechtelkotter. Backup Conner Harvey threw for a touchdown on his only attempt, the 10-yarder to Green.

“What we strive for is having a lot of options of guys that can rush, and guys that can get receptions,” Moss said. “We want that you can’t just focus on one guy and shut him down. We have great depth. Some guys don’t have a lot of experience, but they can play.